Lessons

My Teaching Philosophy

I love teaching students of all ages and abilities and have over two decades of teaching experience, comprised of private lessons, group classes, and ensemble instruction. In addition to teaching music, I have extensive training and background as a special education teacher, which helps me think outside the box and reach students through a variety of learning approaches. I find that having a diverse teaching background helps me connect with students beyond music by relating it to other aspects of their lives.

My teaching philosophy is based upon equal parts improvement and enjoyment. In my experience, students who are having fun are more likely to improve, and they’re more likely to have fun if they can hear themselves getting better! Learning an instrument requires dedication, focus, and attention to detail, all valuable skills that extend well beyond music.

My lessons are structured around mastering the fundamentals of brass playing, including air support, sound projection, articulation, slide technique, sight reading, and musicality. For students interested in jazz improvisation (on any instrument), I teach jazz vocabulary, ear training, the application of scales and chords, motivic development, harmonic and rhythmic development, and how to develop one’s “sound”. I provide quality instruction at competitive rates. Please contact me to discuss possibilities.

Leading a middle school trombone sectional with South Coast Youth Band in Santa Barbara, CA.